The vast majority of ‘core’ innovation policymakers are career civil servants. At the time of writing, we estimate there are 374 in Indonesia. The majority of these are based at Ristekdikti (Ministry of Research Technology and Higher Education) (208), followed by Kementan (74) and Kemenperin (the Ministry of Industry) (41), then followed almost equally by LPDP (the Indonesia Endowment Fund for Education), the Kemenkeu, and Bappenas (the Ministry of National Development Planning).
Most civil servants in Ristekdikti are researchers and engineers from four non-ministerial government agencies, namely: BATAN (the National Nuclear Energy Agency), BPPT (Agency for The Assessment and Application of Technology), LAPAN (National Institute of Aeronautics and Space), and LIPI (Indonesian Institutes of Sciences). These agencies are coordinated by Ristekdikti.
Technical and management training is available for policymakers, but this is concentrated on those in senior positions. This has resulted in a skills gap between senior and junior policymakers, which hinders the implementation of policies. Focusing upskilling efforts on those at the forefront of implementation should be a key priority.
